``Despite the "challenging backdrop of the overall economy" Fannie Mae's economists expect the housing recovery to persist. According to the August Fannie Mae National Housing Survey, consumer attitudes toward the housing market remain positive. Even while the number of respondents who said the economy was headed in the wrong direction increased by 2.0 points to 60 percent, respondents who thought it was a good time to sell a home reached the highest level in over two years. The survey also showed expectations for home prices over the next six months increasing for the tenth consecutive month.''